1874 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
288 
may be done in a year upon a farm, and in the 
whole are worth looking after. 
Manure making is always in order. Everything 
that can add to the pile should be gathered. 
Coarse weeds that have no seed in them may 
be put into heaps, with a few bushels of lime and 
covered with earth. They will soon decay and make 
a good dressing for grass lands or pastures. Or 
they may be added to the barnyard manure. Early 
potato tops, sods from the roadside, road dust, 
and all such matter should be added to the com¬ 
post heap. It will ferment rapidly in the hot 
weather, and if turned over or wetted with liquid 
manure, it will be ready for use next month for the 
wheat or rye ground. 
Thrashing should be done as soon as possible. 
Grain is safe from many enemies in the granary. 
Besides it is the same as so much cash, and is equal¬ 
ly available. Markets should be closely watched 
this year. It is difficult to say how they may turn. 
An advance is just as likely as a decline, and with 
wheat in the granary it can be taken advantage of. 
Seed wheat should be carefully selected. The 
heaviest grain only should be taken, and there 
should be no cracked kernels in it. This should be 
looked to while thrashing. If the thrashing 
machine is hired, a farmer should do nothing but 
watch things. Watch the straw closely, and see 
that no grain is left in it. See that the hired teams 
do their 6hare of the work. If a steam thrashing 
machine is used, see that it does not effect the 
insurance on the barn. For farms of less than 100 
acres, a good two horse railroad power machine 
is probably the best. With a cleaner attached it 
is so much the better. The whole may be set in the 
barn, and grain may be thrashed any day at an 
hour’s notice. There need be no waste of straw. 
As a mow is emptied of grain, the straw should be 
returned. This is better than stacking it out of 
doors. Before long there will be few places in the 
country, where it will pay to throw the straw away. 
Plowing for Wheat upon oat-stubble should be 
done as soon as the oats are off. A light furrow, to 
cover the stubble, is sufficient. The oats left upon 
the ground that the pigs have not gathered, will 
soon sprout. When they are well started, a thor¬ 
ough cultivation will kill them. If a clover sod is 
to be plowed, it should be turned perfectly flat. If 
lime is to be used, it should be drawn now, and 
piled upon the plowed ground in small heaps. A 
bushel to every two rods each way will give 40 
bushels to the acre. The heaps will slack in a few 
days, or with one shower. The lime may then be 
spread evenly, and the ground left until next month. 
Horses should not be stinted in their feed. Work¬ 
horses should be put out to pasture at night, but 
they should have their usual allowance of other 
feed. They have some lost flesh to make up. 
Scrape off the eggs of the bot-fly from their fore¬ 
legs and shoulders with a sharp knife, or wash 
them off witli warm water every evening. Three 
hour’s rest at noon is not too much for the team 
while plowing. The time may be made up at 
morning and night. This arrangement is not a bad 
one for the driver as well. Give water often, and 
don’t forget a handful of corn-meal stirred into it. 
Colts may be taught to eat a little meal or bran, 
and to be handled freely. The gentlest possible 
treatment should be given to all young stock at 
this season, and careful attention. 
Cows need extra feed, or they will fall off in milk. 
Corn, or other green fodder, should be given them 
daily in addition to their pasture. Carbolic soap¬ 
suds left to dry upon their legs, will keep flies at a 
distance. Three hours at noon in a cool, clean 
stable will be a grateful change for them from a 
hot, unshaded pasture. 
Calves may be turned into a good clover after- 
math, or a wheat-stubble, if the young clover is 
thrifty. Half an ounce of salt daily will prevent 
bloat. If they can get skimmed, or even sour milk, 
until six months old, they will be the better for it. 
Sheep. —Lambs should now be weaned, the rams 
separated from thp floqk, and put in a field by 
themselves. A little extra feed may be given to 
the rams. The lambs should have a handful of 
mixed bran and oil-cake daily. They will be more 
contented if put in a field out of sight of the ewes. 
The ewes should be looked after daily, and those 
with full bags should be eased of a portion of the 
milk. This should be done every night, until they 
are dried off. Ewes, which are the best nurses, 
may be put with the rams for early lambs in Janu¬ 
ary. Look out for ticks and the fly maggot in 
spots accidentally bruised, or where filth gathers. 
Tar smeared upon the uoses will keep away the 
gad-fly. Above all things, keep sheep out of wet, 
marshy pastures. 
Swine .—This is a critical time for hogs where 
cholera is frequent. Furnish those at pasture with 
shade and plenty of clean water. Give them a lit¬ 
tle salt (about an ounce each) daily. Watch for 
the first sign of sleepiness and a desire to hide in 
quiet places by themselves. When this is seen, pen 
up the hog, and give 4 ounces of salt, and soft 
food with some linseed meal. Store hogs may be 
penned for fattening. One pound of corn now is 
worth two in November. Besides, every rod they 
run about uses up fat. Boars should be kept from 
the sows, unless pigs are wanted to come in Dec. 
Poultry .—Vermin increase fast at this season. 
No fowls will thrive if kept in close, filthy quarters, 
where lice abound. A coat of hot lime-wash, with 
an ounce of carbolic acid dissolved in it, will free 
the roost from lice. Clear out all the droppings, 
and spread them evenly in the compost heap. As 
the old fowls get fat upon the stubbles and in the 
straw yard, they should be sold off or used in the 
kitchen. A stewed fowT is more wholesome food 
than fried pork at this season. To give fowls the 
run of the barn is a wasteful practice. 
Sundry Matters .—If there is no insurance upon 
the barn, one should be procured without delay. 
The vapor from a barnful of new hay or grain is 
one of the best conductors of lightning. Bathe the 
whole body with cold water every night, and rub 
briskly with a dry towel. This brings refreshing 
sleep, and conduces to health. Give the men and 
boys a bucket with soap and towels, that they 
may do the same. They will work the better for it. 
Work in the Horticultural Departments. 
August brings a short breathing spell to the gar¬ 
dener, if he has been diligent in the killing of 
weeds. If there are in the garden or orchard, any 
corners and neglected spots, where the weeds are 
allowed to grow and ripen their seed, these spots 
will furnish a bountiful supply of weed seeds for 
perpetuating the crop, so that the quantity is not 
^perceptibly diminished year by year, as it should 
be. These corners ought to have a thorough clear¬ 
ing out, and not a weed allowed to ripen its seed. 
Tlris will be a great aid in keeping the place in 
order. If the work is well along now, a few days 
of rest and quiet, either in the mountains or at the 
seashore, will be appreciated by all hands, or even 
a day’s picnic in a cool grove will give them a 
pleasant change. 
©reSaaiul and TV nr scry. 
For trees that were planted in the spring, the 
present month will be a trying one, and unless they 
were properly mulched, many will not survive the 
hot, dry weather. No danger need be feared if a 
thick layer of hay or straw, corn-stalks, or other 
material, has been placed around each tree, as this 
will keep the ground constantly cool- and moist, 
and also prevent the growth of weeds. 
Marketing will engage the attention of most fruit 
growers this month, and everything ought to be in 
readiness for carrying it on rapidly. Baskets, 
crates, barrels, or whatever is used should be pro¬ 
vided in sufficient quantity, so that no time need be 
lost for want of them. See that the packing is done 
carefully, so that the fruit will not be unnecessarily 
bruised in transportation. Try to gain a good name 
for quality, this will always sell the fruit, even 
during times of plenty, for most buyers will pay 
more for a first class article, than for a poor one. 
Weeds. —There need be no trouble from weeds if 
they are not neglected; a horse and cultivator 
between the rows of the larger trees and shrubs, 
and a hand cultivator among the small plants and 
seedlings, will be found amply sufficient. 
Insects will infest the fruit trees in many sections' 
at this season of the year, and they ought not to be 
neglected. Much immature fruit will fall, and 
this on examination will be found to contain insects : 
this fruit should be given to the pigs, or if conveni¬ 
ent allow the pigs the run of the orchard. Destroy 
the nests of the late web-w-orms as soon as they 
appear, else they will soon eat up the entire 
foliage ; the best method is to take out the nest by 
hand, or if neglected so long that they spread.,, 
cut and burn the infested branches. 
Budding may be performed whenever the bark" 
will lift readily, and well-ripened buds can be had 
The maturity of the buds may be hastened by 
pinching the ends of the shoots on which they are 
borne. When sticks of buds are taken, cut off the 
leaves, and leave the leaf-stalk attached to the twig 
keep the twigs moist until used. 
Fs"taI4 <H3sr4lcM. 
The same directions as to picking and marketing" 
fruit, apply as well here as in the orchard. All-, 
surplus fruit should be dried or canned. 
Dwarf Trees. —Pick off all deformed fruit, and; 
also thin out where too thick. 
Crapes. —Use sulphur as soon as mildew appears*. 
Tie the vines to trellises or stakes. 
Blackberries. —Allow only three or four canes to 
grow, and pinch these off as soon as they reach a 
hight of five or six feet, and stop the laterals when, 
eighteen inches long. Allow the fruit to remain on 
until thoroughly ripe when for family use; fov 
marketing pick before fully ripe. 
Raspberries. —Cut out the old fruiting canes as 
soon as they have finished bearing, and apply a 
dressing of manure, forked in between the rows. 
Strawberries. —The latter part of this month is a 
good time to plant new beds, if the plants can be 
watered and shaded. Remove the mulch from the 
old beds, and take out all weeds, and cut off all 
runners not needed for forming new plants. The 
best manure for newly planted beds is either wood- 
ashes, or ground bone raked in, if stable manure 
is used it should be well rotted, or else it will 
bring in an abundance of weeds. 
KitcSnesii dardem. 
Asparagus must not be neglected, as often hap¬ 
pens, through the pressure of other work. If the 
bed is allowed to become weedy, the next year’s- 
crop will be injured. Hoe frequently to kill the 
weeds and keep the soil light. 
Beans. —Although rather late for a crop, a fevr 
may be planted for late snaps or for salting. Keep- 
the pole and bush sorts well hoed and weeded. 
Cabbages and Caidiflowers. —Hoe frequently, and 
as often as possible, in the early morning -when the 
dew is on. Apply liquid manure as often as con¬ 
venient, it will help their growth wonderfully dur¬ 
ing this hot dry month. 
Carrots. —Cultivate between the rows until tfos- 
tops cover the ground ; hand-weed the rows whesa 
the weeds appear. Thin out the late sowings;. 
Celery.— Prepare the land, and set out the planfg- 
tlie middle or last of this month, for winter use. 
The winter crop should be earthed up and the 
ground well cultivated. 
Corn. —Keep the weeds down by cultivation anc 
pull the large ones from the rows by hand. Cut 
off and burn all smutty ears. The stalks of earliest 
varieties, from which the ears have been picked), 
should be cut for fodder, and the ground sowed 
to late turnips. 
Cucumbers. —Gather for pickles every day r the - 
small ones, not over two or three inches long, mafias 
the best pickles. The over-grown ones may Bst- 
made into cucumber catsup, for winter use. 
Egg Plants.— The warm weather of this month fc 
